Dianthus plant named ‘DCAPE04-0’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Dianthus plant named ‘DCAPE04-0’ is disclosed, characterized by continuous flowering on floriferous plants hardy to USDA Zone 3. Flowers are semi-double and light to medium red-purple and purple. The new variety is a Dianthus, typically produced as a garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Dianthus hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘DCAPE04-0’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of chance discovery. The new varietyoriginated as a spontaneous whole plant mutation discovered among acommercial planting of mixed Dianthus hybrida varieties. The parent isunknown. ‘DCAPE04-0’ was discovered by the inventor, Steve Jones, at acommercial greenhouse in Santa Paula, Calif. during Summer of 2014.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘DCAPE04-0’ was first performedin Santa Paula, Calif. at a commercial greenhouse by vegetative cuttingsin Summer of 2014. ‘DCAPE04-0’ has since produced several generationsand has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable andreproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘DCAPE04-0’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘DCAPE04-0’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘DCAPE04-0’ as a new and distinct Dianthuscultivar:

-   -   1. Floriferous plants.    -   2. Suitability for both garden and container uses.    -   3. Pastel pink flower colored near Red-Purple 70C and Purple 75D        with a white base.    -   4. Continuous flowering from Spring through Fall. Repeat        flowering enhanced by removal of spent flowers.    -   5. Hardy to USDA zone 3    -   6. Semi-double flower with an average of 14 to 20 petals.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DCAPE04-0’ are comparable to the unpatented,commercial Dianthus variety ‘Constant Beauty Light Pink’. The twoDianthus varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics;however, the new variety ‘DCAPE04-0’ produces a flower with a differentred-purple color, mainly darker and having less purple tones. Flowers ofthe new variety also have a more consistent color within the sameflower.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DCAPE04-0’ can also be compared to thecommercial Dianthus variety ‘DDTHP02-0’ having U.S. Plant Pat. No.28,102. These varieties are similar in most horticulturalcharacteristics; however ‘DCAPE04-0’ produces a red-purple flower,compared to the purple flower of this comparator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph illustrates in full color a typical plant of‘DCAPE04-0’ grown outdoors in Santa Paula, Calif. This plant isapproximately 17 weeks old, shown in a 6 inch pot. The photograph wastaken using conventional techniques and although colors may appeardifferent from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurateas possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Colour Chart, 2007, except where general terms of ordinarydictionary significance are used. The following observations andmeasurements describe ‘DCAPE04-0’ plants in a commercial greenhouse inSanta Paula, Calif. Temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 29° C. night andday. No artificial light, photoperiodic treatments or chemicaltreatments were given to the plants. Natural light conditions wereapproximately 2500 to 4000 fc of light. Measurements and numericalvalues represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Dianthus hybrida ‘DCAPE04-0’.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate roots: About 10 days at approximately 24° C.-   Time to produce a rooted cutting: About 18 days at 24° C.-   Root description: Fibrous roots, approximately 1 to 3 mm in    diameter, colored near Orange-White 159C.

PLANT

-   Age of plant described: Approximately 17 weeks from rooted cutting.-   Pot size: 5 inch.-   Plant type: Compact upright perennial.-   Plant habit: Upright growing stems emerge basally.-   Plant spread: Approximately 23 cm.-   Height: Approximately 15 cm to top of flowering plane. Approximately    12 cm to top of foliar plane.-   Length plant stem: Average range 8 to 11 cm.-   Diameter of plant stem: Approximately 0.4 cm.-   Quantity of stems: Approximately 20.-   Stem:    -   -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 145B.        -   Texture.—Smooth.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite (in pairs).        -   Quantity.—Approximately 18 to 22 fully expanded leaves per            stem.        -   Average length.—Approximately 3.5 to 4.5 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 0.8 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Linear.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Clasping.        -   Attachment.—Sessile.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture of top surface.—Smooth.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Smooth.        -   Pubescence.—None.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 137B. Young            foliage under side: Near RHS Green 138A. Mature foliage            upper side: Near RHS Green 137A. Mature foliage under side:            Near RHS Green 137A.        -   Venation.—Type: Linear with a prominent mid vein. Venation            color upper side: Indistinguishable from foliage. Venation            color under side: Indistinguishable from foliage.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: Perpetual flowering.-   Inflorescence type and habit: Umbel of 2 to 4 flowers, or single    occurring flowers.-   Flower longevity on plant: 2-3 weeks.-   Quantity of flowers: Approximately 30 to 35 flowers on a 17 week old    plant.-   Flowers persistent or self cleaning: Persistent.-   Fragrance: Moderately noticeable sweet scent.-   Inflorescence size:    -   -   Diameter.—Approximately 7.0 cm.        -   Height.—Approximately 6.0 cm.-   Individual flower size:    -   -   Diameter.—Approximately 3.0 cm.        -   Length.—Approximately 3.2 cm.-   Petals, excluding tube:    -   -   Petal arrangement.—Whorled, multiple whorl.        -   Shape.—Spatulate, with an elongated narrow base and            orbicular distal section.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Serrated.        -   Apex.—Sharply serrated or notched.        -   Length.—2.8 cm.        -   Width.—1.8 cm.        -   Petal quantity.—Average range 14 to 20.        -   Texture.—Smooth all surfaces.        -   Aspect.—Flat to slightly undulating.-   Color:    -   -   When opening.—Upper surface: Near RHS Red-Purple 62B, center            streak near 62D. Base near White N155A. Lower surface: Near            RHS Red-Purple 65C. Base near White N155A.        -   Fully opened.—Upper surface: Between Red-Purple 70D. Base            near White N155A. Lower surface: Near RHS Purple 75D. Base            near White N155A.        -   Fading.—Upper surface: Near RHS Red 56C. Base near White            N155A. Lower surface: Near RHS Red 56C. Base near White            N155A.-   Tube:    -   -   General description.—Tube consists of the elongated, unfused            base of the petals. Tube shape caused by a fused calyx.        -   Length.—1.7 cm.        -   Width.—0.8 cm.        -   Texture.—Smooth.-   Color:    -   -   Fully opened.—Inner surface: Near RHS Green 137C. Outer            surface: Near RHS Green 138A.-   Bud:    -   -   Shape.—Elongated cylinder.        -   Length.—Average 1.8 cm.        -   Diameter.—Average 1.1 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Green-White 157C.-   Sepals:    -   -   Quantity.—5.        -   Arrangement.—Fused tube.        -   Shape.—Cynlindric.        -   Length.—1.8 cm.        -   Width.—0.4 cm.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Texture.—Smooth upper and lower surfaces.        -   Color.—Near RHS Green 137C.-   Bracteoles:    -   -   Shape.—Deltate.        -   Quantity per flower.—4.        -   Length.—Approximately 0.7 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 0.4 cm.        -   Margin.—Smooth.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color.—Near RHS Green 137C.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—Average 1.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.2 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Green 137C.        -   Orientation.—Upright.        -   Strength.—Flexible.        -   Texture.—Smooth.-   Pedicel:    -   -   Length.—Average 0.9 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.15 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Green 137C.        -   Orientation.—Upright.        -   Strength.—Flexible, elastic.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:    -   -   Number.—Most commonly 6.        -   Filament length.—Approximately 1.2 cm.-   Anthers:    -   -   Shape.—Oblong.        -   Length.—Approximately 0.2 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow 4D.        -   Pollen.—Not observed.-   Pistil:    -   -   Number.—3.        -   Length.—Approximately 3.1 cm.        -   Style.—Length: Approximately 2.1 cm. Color: Near RHS White            N155B.-   Stigma:    -   -   Shape.—Linear, arching.        -   Color.—Near RHS White N155B.        -   Ovary shape.—Oblong.        -   Ovary diameter.—0.5 cm.        -   Ovary length.—0.8 cm.        -   Ovary color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 150D.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: Not observed to date.-   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    the normal diseases and pests of Dianthus has been observed. Typical    diseases of Dianthus include: Alternaria dianthicola, Botrytis    cinerea, Erwinia chrysanthemi, Pseudomonas caryophylli, Fusarium    graminearum, Fusarium avenaceum, Fusarium culmorum and Rhizoctonia    solani, Typical pests include; various species of Thysanopthera,    various Aphis species, and various species of Tetranychus.-   Temperature tolerance: USDA zones 3 through 10 tolerant.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Dianthus plantnamed ‘DCAPE04-0’ as herein illustrated and described.